Communications

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:

At the CREST terminals at the National Archives in College Park there is a notice describing the automatic collection of anonymous information during terminal sessions. This is a request for all records about the uses to which the CIA puts this information. This is not a request for records describing the use of a particular piece of information (e.g., using a specific piece of information from a specific terminal session to investigate a specific instance of alleged tampering), but rather a request for records describing the purposes of the information collection in greater detail than that one-page notice.

The CIA maintains that it does not have to release the CREST database in its entirety to FOIA requesters because of the security procedures it uses to monitor how that database is used, but there is no information in the public record explaining in any significant degree of detail how this information is actually being used and how useful it actually is to law enforcement efforts. Accordingly, the release of information describing the purpose of this information collection in greater detail, and therefore explaining the CIA’s reliance on the necessity of such security measures when denying FOIA requests for the CREST database, would significantly contribute to the public’s understanding of government operations and activities.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 4, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #F-2014-00765.